Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-06
SURGEON CRAwroRD.s CASE.

VASHlNdlONs -. We, =
SURGEON CRAwFORD's CASE.
Judge Harper Holds that the EdDunds
Law II Applicable Here-The Hearing
In the Police Court To-day.
There was quite large audience In the Police
Court this afternoon, attracted there to hear the
case Of Passed Assistant Surgeon Millard H
Crawford, OF the Navy, who IL charged IN Two
cases with fornication, as heretofore published In
TIE STAR. Considerable interet was mani
tested In the case by attorneys who wanted
TO hear the decision Of Judge Harper
on the demurrer filed by the defendants
counsel. Eva White, the young girl with whom It
Is charged the crime was committed, was not
present, not having returned from New York. A
subpoena had been sent for her by the defense, but
| It had not been returned. DR.. White, the girls
father, was detained at home by sickness, caused,
before the case was called the defendant, with his
counsel, Messrs. ChaS 8. Moore and Chaa Thomp-
so TSs :. came &c into court , + .a,.v min
uteS 10 O'Clock. Judge Harper announced That
he had concluded after considering the legal ques-
lions raised, that the so-cailed EdmundS' law, up
der which this prosecution was Instituted, was
sepPnGaDle mere, and he would therefore NOT sus'
As soon as the decision was announced Mr.:
Moore nsng, said: "pll enter plea OF not guilty
Ae then began preparations for 9 long. sitting by
sns
THE TESTIMONY.
Mr.. L1pscomb, the prosecuting attorney, called
as his nrst wttnes. Joseph Shelton retired
police oncer,
Before examining the witness, Mr.. upscomo
formation alleged that the onense was committed
July and the other on July 8.
MI. Moore suggested that they should try the
After some discussion the court decided to con-
s0lidate the information
streets southeast; had known DR.. White for ten or
twelve years and knew his daughter Eva He
nved opposite to them.
comb.
Mr.. Moore objected to this.
MI. GpScomb said he proposed to show what the
this case there was much circumstantiai evidence;
evidence or relations between this defendant and
cag gr Wcn when the age OF the DEFENDANT and
nality.
Mr.: Moore protested against considering the
Mr.. Mpscomb said he would introduce testi-
mony as to the age OF the girl.
Omcer Shelton, going on, testified that in the
noticed Crawford ut the back Of the lot, attached
to DR. Whites house, talking with the girl. About
the middle OF July he saw him in the yard sitting
MT. Npscomb asked II there was anything in the
demeanor OF the couple that attracted his atten-
ton.
Mr.. Moore objected to elciting the witness sus-
M: Lipscomb altered his question to simply ask,
the witness said he could, on account of the
grade OF the street, only see their heads and
shoulders. They seemed to be fondling each other,
Upon cross-examination Mr.. Moore said: 'sYou
saw this couple sitting together In the yard one
day IN broad daylight, where YOU walking in the
swear"
eyes SIR" said the witness
employe OF the naval hospital, having left there
July 1, testified TO knowing Eva White by sight.
He knew Dr. Crawford.
''Single, so far as know or" said the witness.
MI. Moore objected to the witness stating things
$50 far as he knew"
Mr.. LpscOmb said that II the defense denied
that Dr.. Crawford was single, the prosecution
| would have to put in proof TO that effect. The
be Be proved by the report Of Rim among those hose
who knew him. There was no record anywhere
to show that q man was single. After consider;
to say that the defendant was repuIed to
be single man. The witness said he
i had d.. seen -, the p. doctor and Eva White
school hours. DR.. Crawford had a room or office
on the left Of the hall as you enter the hospital
White In the hospital once during the spring. He
thought it was more than two months before the
Isl OF July.
1.-The limit ana extent OF your testimony" said
MI. Moore, on crosS-examination, ''was that you
saw this girl, Eva White, come into the hospital
once7"
g" saw her come in once, repeated the witness.
'Tt was in the daytime during the usual bust
ness hours, wasn't it?" asked Mr.. Moore.
eyes, said the witness.
Edmond +. Wright, who lives next to Dr.. Whites
house. was the next witness called. He knew DR..
Crawford; about the LIST Of June no had seen
DR.. Crawford talking with the girl on the corner
During June, On two or three Sundays, he had
seen DR.. Crawford going into the house He would
go between 8 and IL 80 in the morning, and re-
main there an hour and half or two hours
After MI. Moore had summed up Mr. Wright's
testimony to the effect that he had seen Dr. Craw-
ford two or three times 60 TO the house In the day
time, ne announced to the court that he would
object to the Introduction OF any more such testi-
mony until some testimony had been offered to
prove an act OF forncatlOn. He said that the cor
pus deficit must be established.
MI: upscom6, following out the figure OF a
murtler case, said he would In proving such case
the murder. This evidence went to show famil-
1ar1ty.
The court--Let the testimony go on.
Isabella Edwards, young cOlOred girl. was the
next witness. She said she had seen Dr.. Crawford
and Eva White together, but she was rather vague
about the ,t tune She thought it was about three
ting on platform in the back part OF DR.. Whites
lot.
'.sne was sitting on his lap, and one other time
they were sitting close together"
"When she was sitting on his lap" said Mr..
L1pScOmb, "where did she have her arInS?"
''On his shoulder" said the Witness
On cross-examlnation Mr.. Moore brought out the
fact that the witness did not know the number of
the house where she lived, or where she had lived
before.
'You only know that you live?" said Mr.. Moore.
eyes, SIR" SAID the witness
The witness said that every evening as she went
to the pump, She saw them sitting together s'sit-
ting pretty close" Mr.. Moore questioned
the witness considerably as to the way
nArC1ea fhnu
were sitting with his face toward her
Afterward she said they were not facing her. re-
marking in explanation that they were Sitting so
as TO face her, out II don't guess they looking
ut me-"
Mr.. Moore having elected from the witness that
Mr.. LipscOlnD asked the witness who was present.
Mr.. Moore objected.
Mr.. upscomb said that It was 1ntimated that
Mr.. Pearson had told the girl what to swear to,
and that this was case OF blackma1l, such as the
Surgeon-General OF the Navy mad rushed into
print about.
After some discussion the witness said Mr., Nc
saw Mr.. Pearson.
few minutes before 8 O'Clock Judge Harper
suggested poStpOnement OF the case until another
day, but counsel on both sides claimed that they
had witnesses they had brought here from q dis
lance, and that postponement would cause them
much Inconvenience.
The court decided to go on until half-past 8.
Policeman Pearson, the officer On the Naval
Hospital beat, was the next witness DIR. Craw-
ford, be said, was reputed to be single man. He
described the location OF DR.. Whites house and
grounds.
The King Of Holland HI.